With a soft “crack,” the bronze wine vessel in Xiao Li’s hand developed a fissure from his grip.

But suddenly, a commotion came from the entrance. Everyone present raised their heads to look, and Fan Yuan’s attention was also drawn away by the disturbance. He didn’t notice Xiao Li’s loss of composure upon hearing these words, and only laughed, saying to him, “Wengzhu has arrived!”

Xiao Li also lifted his eyes and saw Jiang Yu, Sikong Wei, and Fang Mingda from Southern Chen entering one after another. Then Wen Yu and her teacher Li Yao also appeared at the entrance.

The ministers all stood up to welcome them. Xiao Li’s gaze, filled with suppressed gloom, looked toward Wen Yu.

Wen Yu seemed to sense something and cast a glance in his direction, but her expression was quite calm.

At the lower left of the host seat, a place was still arranged for Li Yao. After Wen Yu and Li Yao took their seats, they invited the ministers to feast and drink to their hearts’ content.

After three rounds of wine, Wen Yu raised her vessel and stood from the host seat, saying, “Tonight I have invited all of you to gather here for three reasons. First, to thank all you lords—after the defeat at Fengyang, you still remained utterly loyal and devoted to my Wen clan, traveling thousands of miles to Pingzhou to assist Yu.”

Seeing this, the ministers also raised their vessels and stood, repeatedly saying this was a minister’s proper duty.

Wen Yu looked around at everyone in the hall and continued, “Second, to celebrate the joy of annexing Tao Commandery. Being able to recruit Governor Yao and all the lords of Tao Commandery into our service is Yu’s good fortune.”

Yao Zhengqing and the other Tao Commandery officials who had been persuaded to surrender by Li Yao hastily held their vessels and bowed their heads: “We are deeply grateful that Wengzhu has not abandoned us and has given us the opportunity to make amends through meritorious service. From now on, we will pledge our lives to serve Wengzhu loyally!”

Sikong Wei, seated at his place, hearing Wen Yu’s words and observing how young she was, couldn’t help saying in a low voice to Jiang Yu and Fang Mingda, “This Hanyang Wengzhu truly has remarkable methods for managing her subordinates.”

Before Jiang Yu and Fang Mingda could respond, they heard Wen Yu had already mentioned them.

“Third, to celebrate the imminent alliance between Great Liang and Southern Chen. Henceforth, Southern Chen and Great Liang can serve as each other’s sword and shield, no longer struggling alone with a single arm.”

The three from Sikong Wei stood up and raised their vessels toward Wen Yu with smiles: “Wengzhu speaks truly. Our Southern Chen also looks forward to the early signing of the alliance treaty with Great Liang!”

Wen Yu gave them a polite nod. Holding her vessel with both hands, her hanging wide sleeves had surfaces as smooth as water, and the fine embroidered patterns gleamed golden in the candlelight like clear ripples. She said to all the ministers below, “This cup, this Palace toasts to all of you.”

Having said this, she used her wide sleeve as a screen and drained the wine in her vessel.

After the ministers standing below also drank it all in one gulp, they all took their seats.

But Wen Yu showed no intention of returning to the host seat. Instead, trailing the gold-woven embroidered fabric of her skirt, she slowly descended the steps and walked to Chen Wei’s seat.

A maidservant followed closely behind, holding a tray on which was placed a gilt wine pot and the wine vessel Wen Yu had just used.

Wen Yu took up the pot and, after filling both her own vessel and the one placed on the low table before Chen Wei, set down the pot. She picked up the wine vessel and said, “When Yu was insignificant, fortunately Lord received your assistance, which is why there is today. This cup, Yu toasts to you, my lord.”

Chen Wei repeatedly expressed his unworthiness and lifted with both hands the cup of wine Wen Yu had personally poured for him and drank it down.

Subsequently, Li Xun and Fan Yuan both received wine personally poured by Wen Yu.

Xiao Li didn’t know whether Wen Yu was drinking clear wine or strong liquor. Seeing her drink so many cups in succession, his brows still unconsciously furrowed slightly.

But before he could think further, after Wen Yu finished toasting Fan Yuan, her brocade shoes had stopped before him.

Looking at Wen Yu’s face, there was not a trace of intoxication. Her expression was clear, with only a faint, barely noticeable blush at the corners of her eyes.

Her hand with distinct finger bones picked up the wine pot and leaned forward to pour wine for Xiao Li.

Xiao Li did not raise his eyes. In his field of vision were only that slender white jade hand holding the pot and the clear wine pouring from its spout. Wen Yu was separated from him by the distance of a square table, but this was already the closest he had been to her in these several months.

In the pervasive wine vapor, there seemed to drift a trace of her uniquely cold and subtle fragrance. Was it floating out from her hanging wide sleeves? Or overflowing from her hair?

Xiao Li dared not look much, nor dare think much. The hand hanging before his knee unconsciously tightened, veins protruding one by one from the back of his hand.

After Wen Yu finished pouring the wine, she picked up her own wine vessel. Her voice was clear as she said, “General Xiao has repeatedly rescued Yu from danger, and in the army has also repeatedly achieved merit. Having the fortune to meet General Xiao is Great Liang’s blessing. This cup, Yu toasts to General Xiao.”

Xiao Li couldn’t remember how long it had been since he’d been this close to her and heard her speak. It was like a tiny feather falling on his ear. That cup of wine Wen Yu had personally poured for him was still undrunk, but his mind was already in chaos, as if he were already drunk.

Yet Fan Yuan’s earlier words also lingered in his ears. For a moment, his heart held an indescribable flavor.

Like being split open by the north wind—the bitter cold drilling straight into his chest cavity. Cold, and painful.

Xiao Li lifted his eyes, crashing into Wen Yu’s clear, waveless gaze. His throat rolled lightly. Without saying a word, he picked up the wine vessel with one hand and tilted his head back, drinking it clean.

As Wen Yu turned to leave, he showed no intention of sitting down. Instead, he took up the wine pot placed on the table and said on his own, “To be appreciated by Wengzhu is this subordinate’s fortune in three lifetimes. This subordinate will drain another cup on his own.”

Having said this, he actually tilted his head back and poured directly from the pot’s spout.

This action won applause from the entire hall. The military generals all praised Xiao Li’s capacity for alcohol. Those who had been refused when toasting him before the feast began now all surged forward.

Wen Yu’s brows furrowed lightly. She glanced at Xiao Li, then continued walking down the hall with her maidservant, her expression as usual, toasting one by one to the ministers with outstanding merit.

For her final toast, she passed many ministers and walked to Yan Que’s seat. Yan Que’s face showed complete astonishment. He hastily picked up the wine pot to pour wine into his empty cup, but Wen Yu moved before him, taking the gilt pot from the maidservant’s tray and pouring for him.

Seeing this, Yan Que was quite at a loss and hurriedly said, “Wengzhu, this is improper…”

After Wen Yu finished pouring the wine, she raised her wrist to withdraw the pot, then turned to pour into her own wine vessel, saying, “Since this Palace left Luodu, it was Commander Yan who escorted me all the way. During the sacrifice ceremony in Pingzhou, when I encountered an assassination attempt, it was also Commander Yan who rescued me. For such great kindness, I should toast Commander Yan a cup.”

After raising her vessel toward Yan Que, she lifted her sleeve as a screen and drank it down.

Yan Que, whether from being overwhelmed by this honor or for some other reason, did not immediately drink. But he seemed to consider that Wen Yu had already drunk, and all the ministers Wen Yu had toasted along this route had also drunk. If he didn’t drink, before the Southern Chen envoys and all the Liang ministers, it would be inexcusable no matter what. After a slight hesitation, he also tilted his neck back and drank it down.

He wiped the corner of his mouth and said, “Thank you, Weng…”

Before he could finish the sentence, he suddenly raised his hand and painfully clutched his throat. Then, looking at Wen Yu with disbelief, his gaze swept toward the gilt wine pot held on the maidservant’s tray. Noticing that a blood-red pigeon gem was embedded in the pot’s handle, black blood dripped from the corners of his mouth as he struggled to speak: “Mandarin duck pot…”

The poison was fierce. His body could no longer support him. As he fell, he knocked over the low table. Wine cups, bowls, and plates crashed to the ground, producing a sharp clattering sound.

His eyes, filled with bloodshot threads, stared in Wen Yu’s direction: “You… you knew everything?”

Black blood seeped little by little from his mouth and nose. He never heard Wen Yu’s reply before he breathed his last.

Everyone present was stunned by this sudden turn of events. The three from Southern Chen hurriedly began checking the wine they had just drunk.

Wen Yu looked calmly at Yan Que, who died with eyes wide open, and said, “This Palace has always been clear about rewards and punishments. Having rewarded meritorious ministers, naturally I should also settle accounts with traitors, should I not?”

Her hand loosened its grip on the bronze vessel. The bronze wine vessel crashed to the ground with a sharp sound.

The maidservants who had been standing like shadows at the back of the hall waiting for the guests’ orders pulled out daggers hidden in their sleeves with a flourish of their hands. In a swift move, they stepped forward and seized the officials seated before them who hadn’t yet reacted. Before the others could struggle, sharp blades had already slit their throats.

Pools of blood bloomed on the seats. Not only were Sikong Wei, Jiang Yu, and Fang Mingda shocked—even the many Liang ministers still seated in the hall were all drenched in cold sweat down their spines, looking at Wen Yu in lingering terror, not daring to make a sound.

Among those present, the only ones whose expressions remained relatively composed were those trusted ministers whom Wen Yu had toasted one by one.

But clearly, the current situation was also beyond their expectations. In the deathly silence, no one dared to speak and break the stillness.

A drop of blood had splattered onto Wen Yu’s shoe. She glanced at it with an indifferent gaze, then raised her eyes. Looking toward the three from Southern Chen, her face bore a smile: “This is truly discourteous. Cleaning house has made us a laughingstock before you three envoys.”

The three from Jiang Yu couldn’t smile. Fang Mingda’s expression was especially ugly.

Before they came, they had been scheming to court those aristocratic families with whom they had already established contact, gradually corroding the foundations of Pingzhou and Tao Commandery, so as to reclaim control of these three prefectures and one commandery in the near future.

But Wen Yu had immediately staged this scene of killing the chicken to warn the monkey.

This action was undoubtedly a warning to them that every move they thought could deceive heaven and cross the sea, she had seen completely.

At the same time, it shocked those Liang ministers whose resolve was not firm—she allowed them to be mediocre, but absolutely would not tolerate them harboring divided loyalties. Otherwise, this would be their fate.

Understanding all this, the three couldn’t help but shudder.

This Great Liang princess possessed both a benevolent heart and thunderous methods. After this night, trying to turn the aristocratic families within Pingzhou city or the Liang ministers who had submitted to her would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Wen Yu saw the reactions of those three from Southern Chen. She seemed not to care what their response would be, only instructing those below: “Settling accounts with a few traitors—how did the banquet become like this? Why haven’t you cleaned it up quickly?”

Zhao Bai made a gesture. Soon more guards entered, dragged away the corpses of those traitorous ministers, and maidservants came in carrying bronze basins to wipe clean the blood on the floor.

For those seated near those traitors, the dishes on their tables had been splattered with blood. These were also carried away by maidservants and replaced with a new table of dishes.

But in the overwhelming stench of blood filling the room, who still had an appetite to pick up their chopsticks?

Quite a few strategist ministers felt their stomachs churning, but before Wen Yu’s face, they dared not let out the slightest sound of distress, suppressing it until their entire faces turned deathly pale.

Fortunately, Wen Yu seemed somewhat weary. After the maidservants wiped clean the blood on the floor, she said, “This Palace is somewhat overcome by wine and will no longer keep you company. Please, all of you enjoy yourselves to the fullest at the banquet.”

Supported by Zhao Bai’s hand, she departed. As she was about to step out the main entrance, she suddenly turned back to cast a glance at those three from Southern Chen: “Since the envoys also hope for the alliance treaty to be signed soon, why not draft the letter to be sent to Southern Chen as quickly as possible?”

Sikong Wei and Fang Mingda both failed to respond for a moment. Only Jiang Yu answered in the affirmative.

After Wen Yu left the great hall, timid strategist ministers soon became pale and bent over their tables retching at the lingering bloody smell filling the hall. The three from Southern Chen also left their seats.

Fan Yuan, looking at the gloomy atmosphere at the banquet, pretended not to know the true reason and said, “How far have we even gotten? Already vomiting from drinking?”

He laughed heartily and picked up a wine jar, calling out, “Come, come, come! Brothers, continue drinking!”

The military generals had seen many killing scenes and didn’t react as strongly as the civil ministers. At Fan Yuan’s word, they quickly resumed drinking, and the banquet returned to liveliness.

Fan Yuan turned around wanting to toast with Xiao Li, but saw he was staring somewhat absently at the empty host seat in the hall.

Fan Yuan slapped Xiao Li’s shoulder and said, “Don’t think about anything. As long as we wholeheartedly serve Wengzhu, Wengzhu will know it in her heart.”

Xiao Li had drunk too much earlier. The alcohol’s effects were gradually coming on now, his face somewhat flushed. He withdrew his gaze, his head resting on his elbow, as if drunk. After a pause, he said, “Wengzhu seems… somewhat different from before.”

Fan Yuan chewed peanuts in his mouth, glanced at Xiao Li and said, “Don’t think of Wengzhu as an ordinary master. Think about it—if the Prince were still alive, what status would Wengzhu hold?”

Xiao Li said nothing more, as if sinking into drunkenness.

Li Xun finally found an opportunity to come looking for Xiao Li. Seeing him slumped over the table, he couldn’t help looking at Fan Yuan: “Is General Xiao drunk?”

Fan Yuan said, “Most likely. Those rascals just forced an entire jar down him.”

Li Xun spread his hands rather helplessly: “Then this is truly unfortunate timing. Lord Chen asked me to act as matchmaker for this marriage.”

Fan Yuan laughed: “Don’t worry, I already told Brother Xiao before the feast began!”

Li Xun hurriedly asked, “What did General Xiao say?”

Fan Yuan recalled Xiao Li’s reaction at the time. He felt that encountering such a matter and declining once or twice shouldn’t count as refusal. He scratched the back of his head and said, “I didn’t have time to discuss it with him in detail before Wengzhu arrived.”

Li Xun sighed: “Very well. I’ll wait until tomorrow and personally ask General Xiao myself.”

Seeing Xiao Li collapsed on the table, his ears and cheeks covered with the flush of intoxication, he called someone in to help Xiao Li to one of the guest chambers prepared for visitors to rest.

—

Cool breezes blew over the waterside pavilion. The lotus pond with its rippling waves reflected half a round clear moon.

Li Yao, leaning on his cane, walked along the lakeside path with Wen Yu, saying, “Wengzhu’s heart is troubled?”

Wen Yu’s expression was as usual: “No.”

Li Yao looked at the princess who seemed already able to calmly shoulder the great undertaking of restoring the nation. This always stern and rigid old man sighed deeply and said, “Walking down this path, the fresh blood staining Wengzhu’s hands will grow more and more, but those who wield power must all have their character tempered in this way. Since ancient times, all have said that emperors are heavy with suspicion. Little do they know, suspicion is also planted through betrayals like these, one after another. This old man formerly did not believe Wengzhu could shoulder the great undertaking of restoring the nation, precisely because in the Crown Prince’s lifetime, he only grasped benevolence and dared not touch killing and cutting. Now Wengzhu has released this fierce beast. From now on, the ministers below may begin to fear Wengzhu. Wengzhu must slowly adapt to all of this.”

Wen Yu gazed at that round clear moon in the water and said slowly, “Yu knows.”

Li Yao, thinking again of Yan Que, felt his emotions become complex. He said, “This old man, when I was formerly at the Prince’s Manor, though I rarely interfered with the manor’s affairs, I also saw that traitor several times before your father prince. This person betraying his master for glory naturally deserves death. Wengzhu should not grieve too much over him.”

Wen Yu said, “Teacher need not worry for me. I have suspected him for more than just a day or two, so naturally I won’t grieve.”

Li Yao asked, “That traitor’s letter to Pei Song—since you already intercepted it, yet ordered someone to send it out again, was it to make Pei Song suspicious?”

The lake breeze caused Wen Yu to narrow her eyes slightly. She said, “I want to plant my own people around Sister-in-law. Adding people rashly might alert Pei Song. By letting him think he has our spies among his strategist ministers and having him focus his attention there, then sending people to Sister-in-law’s side should be more secure.”

Li Yao nodded: “This method is workable.”

The night had grown deep. The pond was filled with croaking frogs. Wen Yu sent someone to escort Li Yao back first.

Before leaving, Li Yao said, “Tonight Wengzhu has completely eradicated those deeply hidden secret pawns, and before going to Southern Chen, has used these killing methods to shock all the ministers into submission. Since the flood disaster, Wengzhu has slept little night after night. In the coming days, you need not wake early to go to the study. Rest well.”

Wen Yu thanked him. After watching Li Yao walk far away, she said to Zhao Bai, “I want to walk alone for a while. You should also return.”

Zhao Bai could sense that Wen Yu’s mood was poor tonight. Perhaps she wanted to clear her mind alone. After thinking, she said, “This servant will wait here at the intersection. I’ll come looking for Wengzhu after one hour—is that acceptable?”

Wen Yu knew that with Zhao Bai’s personality, she would certainly refuse to leave first. She nodded in agreement.

She walked by moonlight, continuing aimlessly forward along the lakeside stone path.

The alliance with Southern Chen already had an eighty percent certainty of being finalized.

With pillars like Chen Wei, Li Yao, Li Xun, and Fan Yuan present, even after she went to Southern Chen, Pingzhou and Tao Commandery would not fall into chaos. With the military grain as leverage over Southern Chen, after taking Xin Prefecture and Yi Prefecture, Southern Chen wouldn’t dare play any tricks. She would have sufficient time to completely bring these two prefectures into her possession as well…

But then, why was there still this faint oppression in her heart?

Before Wen Yu’s eyes floated the look in Xiao Li’s eyes at the banquet and his abnormal behavior. She only felt that faint oppression in her heart grow somewhat heavier. She unconsciously wanted to furrow her brow when she suddenly heard a low, hoarse voice from ahead: “You want me to marry Lord Chen’s daughter?”

It seemed like a question, but because of the wine, the voice also had a somewhat mellow quality. The coldness within was not very obvious, making it sound more like too many emotions held back for too long.

Wen Yu raised her eyes and saw someone standing in a dark corner ahead, arms crossed, leaning against a stone wall. His face was completely hidden in shadow. That tall figure and the slightly bulging elbows under his warrior’s garb gave an oppressive feeling, only making one feel as if blocked in the road by some fierce beast hunting in the dark night.